Associate Cook

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Inspects food before use to ensure food safety
• Adjusts ingredient quantity based on the amounts needed for production in following standardized recipes for cooked foods
• Complies with meal schedule and production requirements to have meals ready on time
• Tests new recipes and develops standardized recipes to increase menu variety and promote quality
• Assures available ingredients for production such as thawing ingredients as needed
• Provides appropriate food textures, beverages and diet order
• Bakes pastries
• Peels, washes, trims, seeds and cuts vegetables and fruits without excessive waste
• Prepares cooked food according to established recipes and guidelines for various diets
• Checks cooked foods for appropriate temperatures
• Follows established menus for patients, cafeteria and special functions
• Portions food using utensils and scales and then places food attractively on plate and trays according to diet and/or menu
• Smells and tastes foods to ensure quality and to meet established standards and specifications
• Accurately weighs and measures designated ingredients
• Covers food on steam tables and cold units so that food maintains appropriate temperature and is presented in an organized manner
• Responsible for putting away unused supplies in proper storage area
• Assists in preparation of menus for Trace Café and special functions
• Prepares cold and hot breakfast food
• Prepares food items such as sandwiches, salads, desserts and beverages
• Operates grill
• Runs register
• Stocks supplies
• Obtains die orders and prepares patient’s menus
• Apportions and places food servings on plates and trays according to diet
• Examines trays for completeness/accuracy and places on card
• Records messages on phone message log
• Prepares individual bulk nourishment orders per requisition forms and delivers them
• Provides appropriate food texture and beverages for diet order
• Receives order changes and revises patient menu to agree with current order
• Receives discharges and computes applicable paperwork
• Documents meals and nourishment for patients
• Adjusts production quantity to minimize waste
• Participates in inventory and may place orders for food/supplies
• Effectively utilizes leftovers
• Consults with other cooks or supervisor to coordinate production
• Prepares menus for Trace Café and special functions
• Cleans kitchen, Trace Café and equipment according to infection control guidelines
• Observes safety/infection control regulations to assure safe food supply
• Maintains food servicing temperatures
• Maintains equipment temperatures
• Adheres to cooling guidelines, and appropriately stores/dates food to assure food safety
• Completes and monitors special cleaning lists/sanitation
• Removes dishes, garbage and trays from the Trace Café/utility cards and patient tray retrieval carts
• Washes dishes and cleans work areas, tables, cabinets and equipment
• Collects and places garbage and trash in designated containers
• Sweeps and mops floor

Required Experience

• Knowledge and experience in all aspects of billing
• Knowledge of regulations related to Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial insurance
• Human resources experience in hiring, supervision, and performance reviews
• Knowledge of HIPAA and labor law
• Strong customer service skills
• Skill in writing policies and procedures
• Skill in using healthcare software and computer systems
• Knowledge of maintaining supplies and equipment for the medical setting
• Professional communication and presentation skills, including face to face, email, telephone, and video conference
• Knowledge of continuous process improvement concepts and practices
• Ability to communicate professionally with clinicians, nurses, allied health staff, administrative staff, frontline staff, contractors, governmental agencies, insurance payers, patients, family members of patients, suppliers, and the general public, of all age levels from child to senior citizen